Folding table



Aug. 23, 1966 Filed July 14 1964 5 SheetsSheet 1 FIG. 2 s 5 +5 54 40 C 344 as 62 62 32 A 52 INVENTOR.

42 CHARLES SHORE 42 1 Caaawv 4s ..+s ATTORNEYS.

C. SHORE FOLDING TABLE Aug. 23, 1966 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 14 1964FIG.4

INVENTOR CHARLES SHORE ATTORNEYS.

C. SHORE FOLDING TABLE Aug. 23, 1966 Filed July 14, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. CHARLES SHORE ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,267,885 FOLDING TABLE Charles Shore, 7505 RowlandAve., Cheltenhain, Pa. Filed July 14, 1964, Ser. No. 382,554

. Claims. (Cl. 108112) This invention relates to a folding table, andmore particularly, to a table adapted to be used for the playing oftable tennis, commonly referred to as Ping-pong.

In the recent past a number of foldable Ping-pong tables have beendeveloped which are generally portable. Thus these tables have twohalves which are pivoted upwardly from the outer end to be verticallyorientated. The halves are then supported by some form of a supportingframe which includes swivelly mounted rollers, such as casters. Once thetable assembly has been collapsed it can be moved to any part of a roomfor storage. In this way the major portion of the space of a room is notcontinually taken up by a Ping-pong table, and the room can be used forother functions.

The folding table of this invention embodies all of the functionalfeatures of the prior art movable Ping-pong tables. One of the novelfeatures of the folding table of this invention, however, is the ease bywhich one person can open the table for use or collapse the table forstorage and movement.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel foldingtable.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding table whichis particularly adapted for use as a table tennis table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a folding tablewhich includes a supporting frame mounted on casters whereby the tablecan be collapsed and rolled about.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a folding tablewhich is easily opened and closed by one person.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a movable Ping-pongtable wherein one half of the table top can be arranged in a verticalposition to permit one person to play on the table. I

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providinga folding table comprising a pair of table tops, a central supportingframe, each of said table tops being pivotally linked to said supportingframe, said pivotal linkage including a first bar having one end pivotedto said frame and the other end pivoted to said table top and a secondbar pivoted to said frame and to said table top, and means formaintaining said table tops in a substantially vertical position whenpivoted upwardly around said pivotal linkage.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the table of this invention in itsfolded condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,and showing the condition of a portion of one table top in its collapsedcondition in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3; and v kFIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the table-of-this invention in itscollapsed form, and taken in the direction of the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingswherein similar reference characters refer the folding table I of3,267,885 Patented August 23, 1966 to similar parts, a folding tableembodying the present invention is generally shown at 20 in FIG. 1.Device 20 basically comprises a pair of identical table tops 22 and 24,with each having a customary center line 26, for use in playingPing-pong, and corner supporting legs 28.

Table tops 22 and 24 can be made of any material generally used forPing-pong table tops, such as plywood or composition board. The tabletops are provided with side facings 30 and end facings 32. Collapsibleleg braces 34 maintain legs 28 in the open position. Leg braces 34 areof a conventional design, such as that generally used on card tables.Legs 28 are made of tubular steel, which may be chrome plated, and haveend caps 36 in the bottom thereof. These end caps are made of plastic orrubber, and can be used to glide the table along the floor.

The center of the table includes a central supporting frame generallyindicated at 38. Central supporting frame 38 includes a pair ofidentical U-shaped members 40, with each U-shaped member having a pairof parallel legs 42 and an integral bridging section 44 being uppermost.A horizontal brace 46 is riveted to the bottom of each pair of legs 42.The two U-shaped members 40 are joined by transverse, diagonallydisposed horizontal braces 48. Braces 48 are riveted to the legs 42 andare riveted at their centers as best shown at 50 in FIG. 4.

Frame 38 further includes a pair of U-shaped tubular members 52 whichjoin U-shaped members 40. Members 52 include vertical legs 54 andbridging section 56 which is uppermost. Legs 54 also include inwardlyprojecting flanges 58 extending from the bottom thereof. As best seen inFIG. 4, flanges 58 are integral with and formed from legs 54. The endsof flanges 58 are sealed by end caps 60 which can be of the same metalas tube 52 or plastic. U-shaped members 52 extend perpendicularly tomembers 40 and are riveted thereto as shown at 62 in FIG. 4. The topsurface of bridging section 56 is lower than the top surface of bridgingsection 44, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Table tops 22 and 24 are each pivotally linked to center supportingframe 38 by two pairs of bars 64 and 66. As seen in FIG. 3, bar 64 hasone end pivotally secured by pin 68 to leg 54 of U-shaped member 52.Likewise, bar 66 has one end pivotally secured by pin 70 to the same leg54 of U-shaped member 52. Pivot pin 68 is vertically aligned with pin70, but is positioned slightly above pin 70. The other end of bar 64 ispivotally secured to edge 30 of table top 22 by pin 72. In order toreinforce edge 30, a steel plate 74 is riveted to the inside face ofedge 30. The pivotal connection is through this plate in addition toedge 35. The other end of bar 66 is also pivotally secured to side edgeor facing 30 by pin 76. Again, the pin passes through both the facing 30and steel plate 74.

As seen in FIG. 4, bar 64 is straight throughout its length. The base ofthe bar is horizontally spaced from leg 54 by a spacer ring 78. Thelower portion of bar 66 is inwardly offset. Thus this lower portion willabut leg 54. The purpose of this offset will be explained hereinafter.

The use of the table of this invention as a Ping-pong table is shown inFIG. 1. As seen therein, the outer ends of the table halves aresupported by legs 28. The center of the table is supported by frame 38.A conventional net is mounted across the center of the table and issupported by vertical posts 82 which are secured on bridging sections 44of U-shaped member 49. As seen in FIG. 3, when the table is in its opencondition, the bottom edge of facing 30 will rest on bridging section 56of U-shaped member 52.

When it is desired to collapse the table for storage, net 86 and itssupporting post 82 are first removed. However, if desired, they can beleft in place. Thereafter the table halves 22 and 24 are pivotedupwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2. This pivoting is accomplishedby lifting the outer ends of the table tops and rotating the topsupwardly. This in turn causes each pair of links 64 to rotate downwardlyin the direction of arrow 84 in FIG. 3. Likewise each pair of links 66will rotate downwardly in the direction of arrow 86 in FIG. 3. Aspreviously pointed out, each table top 22 and 24 is supported by a pairof links 64 adjacent each outer edge 30 and a pair of links 66 adjacenteach outer edge 30. The lower positions of linking bars 64 and 66 areshown at 64 and 66, respectively, in FIG. 3. Having the lower portion ofbar 66 inwardly offset with respect to the lower portion of bar 64, asshown in FIG. 4, aids in permitting the pivoting of these bars throughthe are shown in FIG. 3.

After the table tops have been pivoted as described above, they willpass beyond the vertical, as shown at 30 in FIG. 3. Thus, the weight ofthe table top will tend to force continued rotation in the direction ofarrows 84 and 86. However, this rotation is halted by the abutment ofthe lower edge of each table top against the flanges 58 of U-shapedmembers 52. In this manner, the mere weight of the table top alone inthe angular orientation shown in FIG. 2 will maintain the table tops intheir collapsed condition. It is unnecessary to use any additionalsecuring means to hold them in place.

After the table halves have been pivoted upwardly, the legs 28 arefolded into the table by collapsing braces 34. The table is then in itscompletely collapsed condition. If it is desired to move the table to acorner of the room or to some other storage area, the table can easilybe pushed to this area by one person. This is accomplished by providingcasters 88 in the bottoms of tubular legs 42 of U-shaped member 40. Thusthe entire table will be supported on these casters when it is in itscollapsed condition and therefore it can easily be moved about.

One of the prime features of this invention is the use of the pairs oflinking bars 64 and 66. By referring to FIG. 3 it is seen that if asingle linking bar 64 were used, the necessary stability of the tabletop could not be maintained. Thus any attempt to pivot around a singlelinking bar would permit too free a movement of the table top 22.Therefore it is seen that the second linking bar 66 acts as a guide andstabilizer for the first linking bar. By having the pair of linkingbars, the path of movement of the table top is predetermined and thispath cannot be varied once the bars are secured in place. In thisconnection it is seen that bar 66 is of the proper length to insure thattable tops 22 and 24 will be horizontal in their open conditions.However, when the tops are pivoted upwardly bar 66 is of a length toinsure that the table tops will pass over center with respect to thevertical plane. Thus the weight of the table top will tend to force thetable tops through continued rotation. Having bar 66 ofiset relative tobar 64 permits pivot pins 68 and 70 to be closed adjacent each otherthereby having substantially a single pivot point.

The table of this invention can also be used by a single person forpracticing Ping-pong. Thus, one table top can be pivoted upwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 2. The other table top can remain horizontal andthe net can be left in place. A single person using the table could hita Ping-pong ball against the vertically oriented table half and the ballwould be returned to the horizontal half. The use of the table for thispurpose is facilitated by the fact that a single person could easilyopen or collapse the table and roll it to the desired location oncasters 88.

If desired, flanges 58 can be replaced by a pair of horizontal barswhich extend across the entire width of the table and are riveted tolegs 54. This horizontal bar would serve the same function as flanges 58in providing a stop for the rotational movement of table halves 22 and 24 in their collapsed condition. However, the flanges 58 are preferredbecause they are more attractive in appearance and require lessmaterial. Additionally, the necessity of riveting a horizontal bar inplace is obviated by having the flanges which are unitary with theU-shaped members 52.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A folding table comprising a pair of table tops and a centralsupporting frame, said central supporting frame including a pair ofvertical legs on each lateral side of said table tops, said legs beingpositioned adjacent the inner ends of said table tops when said tabletops are in a horizontal position and aligned, said frame furtherincluding a pair of members having transverse portions passing undersaid table tops and being connected to said legs on opposite sides ofsaid table tops, said members being substantially U-shaped with thetransverse portions forming the bridging portions of the U and the legsof the U are secured to said vertical legs, said legs of said U havingflanges formed at the bottom thereof and projecting inwardly toward eachother, said flanges being integral with and formed from said legs ofsaid U, pivot means secured to said frame and to each of said table topswhereby each of said table tops may be pivoted from a substantiallyhorizontal position to a position which is substantially vertical, butslightly beyond the vertical, said pivot means comprising a pair offirst bars and a pair of second bars secured to each of the legs of eachof said members and to each of the table tops, said flanges providingmeans for maintaining said table tops in said substantially verticalposition when pivoted upwardly around said pivot means, and legs securedto the outer ends of said table tops for maintaining said table tops ina horizontal position.

2. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each of said table tops has sidefacings and said bars are secured to said side facings.

3. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each of said first bars islaterally spaced from said legs of the members and each of said secondbars abuts said legs of the members, each of said second bars having anoffset portion adjacent said legs of the members.

4. The folding table of claim 1 wherein said vertical legs have rollermeans secured at the bottom thereof.

5. The folding table of claim 4 wherein said roller means comprisecasters.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,996 5/1894Houston 5-162 662,213 11/1900 Wilmot 5-140 893,100 7/1908 Rosensteel etal 297-121 1,306,475 6/1919 Frank 5-59 2,243,882 6/1941 Pink et a1.5-142 2,642,925 6/1953 Seymour 297-121 2,666,478 1/1954 'Schwayder'248-18891 2,692,175 10/1954 Jacques 108-115 3,061,369 10/1962 Hannost297-124 3,091,196 5/1963 Hirsch 10 8-112 FRANK B. SHERRY, PrimaryExaminer. F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FOLDING TABLE COMPRISING A PAIR OF TABLE TOPS AND A CENTRALSUPPORTING FRAME, SAID CENTRAL SUPPORTING FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OFVERTICAL LEGS ON EACH LATERAL SIDE OF SAID TABLE TOPS, SAID LEGS BEINGPOSITIONED ADJACENT THE INNER ENDS OF SAID TABLE TOPS WHEN SAID TABLETOPS ARE IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION AND ALIGNED, SAID FRAMES FURTHERINCLUDING A PAIR OF MEMBERS HAVING TRANSVERSE PORTIONS PASSING UNDERSAID TABLE TOPS AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LEGS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OFSAID TABLE TOPS, SAID MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED WITH THETRANSVERSE PORTIONS FORMING THE BRIDGING PORTIONS THEREOF AND PROJECUARE SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL LEGS, SAID LEGS OF THE HAVING FLANGESFORMED AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND PROJECTING INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER,SAID FLANGES BEING INTEGRAL WITH AND FORMED FROM SAID LEGS OF SAID U,PIVOT MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME AND TO EACH OF SAID TABLE TOPS WHEREBYEACH OF SAID TABLE TOPS MAY BE PIVOTED FROM SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALPOSITION TO A POSITION WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL, BUT SLIGHTLYBEYOND THE VERTICAL, SAID PIVOT MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF FIRST BARSAND A PAIR OF SECOND BARS SECURED TO EACH OF THE LEGS OF EACH OF SAIDMEMBERS AND TO EACH OF THE TABLE TOPS, SAID FLANGES PROVIDING MEANS FORMAINTAINING SAID TABLE TOPS IN SAID SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION WHENPIVOTED UPWARDLY AROUND SAID PIVOT MEANS, AND LEGS SECURED TO THE OUTERENDS OF SAID TABLE TOPS FOR MAINTAINING SAID TABLE TOPS IN A HORIZONTALPOSITION.